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Protecting Cleveland Transit Drivers

Community activists in Cleveland want RTA riders to start showing drivers some courtesy.  They're declaring December as "Courteous and Polite While Riding the Bus Month," with recently-fired RTA driver Artis Hughes leading the effort. Hughes was fired this month for punching an unruly passenger. A few days after his termination, driver Greg Vranekovic said he was able to avoid an accident after being punched in the face during an argument over a passenger's refusal to pay his fare. An RTA spokesperson says the agency and the bus drivers' union are studying ways to better protect drivers. The union wants shields installed around drivers, and the agency will test several types of Plexiglass enclosures soon. Hughes says it's an important issue for drivers and the public.

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Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.